Congress is Addressing Drug Shortages Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis

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Written By Jennifer Joslyn

💊 Congress is Addressing Drug Shortages Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis.

Congress is taking action to address the critical shortage of pharmaceutical drugs in the U.S., which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held hearings to uncover the root causes of drug shortages and vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply chains. Industry experts testified about the severe lack of utilization in U.S. generic pharmaceutical manufacturing sites, and a coalition called Securing America's Medicines and Supply (SAMS) identified 301 drugs currently in shortage. Legislation has been introduced to promote domestic manufacturing sources and increase Medicare coverage for American-made products. The issue has garnered bipartisan support, and there are calls for government procurement and grants to boost domestic pharma production to alleviate the problem quickly.

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Jennifer Joslyn
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